ROUND ROCK, Texas — A man was taken to the hospital in critical condition after exchanging gunfire with Austin police officers and a trooper from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
In a press briefing late Wednesday night, Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the incident began as a surveillance operation. DPS Troopers were looking for an individual with multiple felony warrants, including some weapons-related charges. Troopers asked the Austin Police Department (APD) to assist in that surveillance and to eventually bring the individual into custody.
Chacon said that surveillance began just before 3 p.m. and continued for several hours. The suspect was in a vehicle at an apartment complex and, as it left, troopers used a tire-deflation device to flatten the suspect's tires in an attempt to disable the vehicle.
The suspect still reportedly managed to drive off on flat tires for some time before a wheel fell off. That's when the suspect was forced to pull into the parking lot of a Circle K store at around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of A.W. Grimes and Louis Henna Boulevard.
Austin officers monitored the progress of the vehicle but officers didn't approach. During the press conference, Chacon insisted there was no pursuit.
At that point, a DPS trooper pulled up near the suspect's vehicle in a marked unit, and that's when Chacon said the suspect began firing at the unit from inside his car.
Since APD was nearby, those officers ran over and returned fire along with DPS, injuring the suspect. First responders began life-saving measures before the man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Chacon said no officers or troopers were injured and that the Texas Rangers will be the leading agency in the investigation. The case will be referred to the Williamson County District Attorney's Office, with APD launching its own internal investigation with the Office of Police Oversight monitoring that investigation.
Five law enforcement officers were directly involved in the shootout. That includes four APD officers and one DPS troopers.
Of the APD officers involved:
- One officer has two years of experience
- One officer has 10 years of experience
- And two officers have six years of experience
All officers will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The suspect was identified Thursday as Brandon Luis Marshall, 41. He's currently booked in Williamson County Jail on the following charges:
- Duty on striking an unattended vehicle
- Driving while intoxicated
- Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Evading arrest and detention with a vehicle
During the Wednesday night press conference, the chief said there are multiple sources of video including bodycam and helicopter footage which may be released at a later time, pending review from the Williamson County DA's Office.
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